Cabinet construction



Dec. 15, 1953 c. E. H. FRYKDAHL CABINET CONSTRUCTION Filed Sept. 1, 1950 i'lllllllllllIII'IIIIII! FlG.l

J I l INVENTOR. CARL E. H. FRYKDAHL ATTORNEYS Patented Dec. 15, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CABINET CONSTRUCTION Carl E. H. Frykdahl, Duluth, Minn., assignor to International Telephone and Telegraph Corporation, a corporation of Maryland Application September 1, 1950, Serial No. 182,827

1 Claim.

This invention relates to cabinet construction and more particularly to structure for closing the opening between inner and outer shells in cabinets such as, refrigerator cabinets.

The present invention constitutes an improvement over the invention disclosed in my co-pending application, Serial No. 699,979, filed September 28, 1946, now Patent No.

A primary object of my invention is to enable the opening between inner and outer shells in refrigerator cabinets and the like to be sealed in a novel and expeditious manner.

A further object is to enable a trim member, or breaker strip, to be extended between the edges of aligned openings in the inner and outer shells of a refrigerator cabinet and the like, and to construct and arrange the trim member and the shells in a novel and expeditious manner whereby: the trim member may be quickly and easily mounted in operative position, and removed from operative position on the shells; and when the trim member is mounted in operative position on the shells, it is firmly held thereon in a positive manner, and affords an effective seal against leakage, or escape of insulation from between the shells of the cabinet.

Other and further objects of the present invention will be apparent from the following description and claim and are illustrated in the accompanying drawings which, by way of illustration, show a preferred embodiment of the present invention and the principle thereof and what I now consider to be the best mode in which I have contemplated applying that principle. Other embodiments of the invention embodying the same or equivalent principle may be used and structural changes may be made as desired by those skilled in the art without departing from the present invention.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a front elevational view of a refrigerator cabinet, with door removed, embodying the principle of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a detail sectional view taken substantially along the line 2-2 in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a detail sectional view taken substantially along the line. 33' in Fig. '2;

Fig. 4 is a detail sectional view somewhat similar to Fig. 2, but with certain parts eliminated therefrom for the sake of clarity and with the parts shown disposed in a different position; and

Figs. 5 and 6 are detail sectional views similar to Fig. 4'. but showing the parts thereof in still different positions.

A cabinet I0 shown in the accompanying drawings to illustrate a preferred embodiment of my invention, comprises an inner casing or shell I2 mounted in an outer casing or shell It in spaced relation thereto, Figs. 1 and 2, the shells being formed of suitable material such as sheet metal or the like. An opening I5 is provided in the upper portion of the front of the cabinet to permit access to the interior of the inner shell I2, and this opening may be normally closed by a door, not shown.

The lower end portion I 4a of the outer shell It extends downwardly from the opening I5 and affords a stand which may be mounted on a suitable base, not shown, to support the cabinet in such a manner that the side walls It and H, the rear wall l8 and the front wall I9 are disposed vertically and the top wall 2! is disposed horizontally.

The outer shell I 4 has a relatively narrow front wall portion 23 projecting inwardly from the side walls I6 and I I, the top wall 2i and the front wall 19, in substantially parallel relation to the rear wall I8, outwardly of the inner shell I 2, to afford a peripheral edge defining the opening I5. The front wall portion 23 of the outer shell I 4 terminates in a reversely bent flange 25, the reverse bend on the flange 25 being preferably made inwardly as shown in Fig. 2.

The side walls and top walls of the inner shell I2 correspond to the side walls I 6 and I1 and the top wall 2I, respectively, of the outer shell I4, and each terminates in an outwardly off-set flange 28, Fig. 2, which is disposed in substantially parallel relation to the respective wall of which it forms a terminal edge. Asis best seen in Fig. 2, the respective, corresponding off-set flanges 28 and reversely bent flanges 25 are disposed in spaced relation to each other and substantially perpendicular to each other, with the leading edge of each off-set flange 28 disposed inwardly and rearwardly of the leading edge of the respective flange 25. The bottom wall 2'. of the inner shell I2, Fig. 2, also embodies a similarly formed and disposed flange 28, which is similarly disposed relative to the flange 25 on the upper edge portion of the lower front wall of the lower end portion of the outer shell I l.

The inner shell I2 may be supported from the outer shell I4 by suitable means such as disclosed in my aforementioned copending application Serial No. 699,979, filed September 28, 1946. or by suitable hangers, such as the hangers 3%, Figs. 1 and 2, whichcomprise bracket members 32 and 33, connected to the outer shell I4 and the inner shell I2, respectively, by suitable means as welding and releasably held together by a bolt 34, a suitable spacer block 36 being mounted between the bracket members 32 and 33. It will be noted that in supporting the inner shell [2 from the outer shell I4, the hanger 39 or other supporting means, and my novel trim strip member or breaker strip 35 are so disposed relative to each other that the breaker strip 35 may be readily mounted on the flanges 28 and 25, as will be discussed in greater detail presently.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that in a cabinet such as the refrigerator cabinet l0, shown in the accompanying drawings, and embodying my invention, the inner shell of the cabinet is supported from the outer shell thereof by suitable means such as the means disclosed in my aforementioned co-pending application, or suitable hangers or brackets such as the hangers 34, Fig. 2, and the inner shell and the outer shell have peripheral edge portions terminating in suitable edges such as the flanges 25 and 28, the peripheral edge portions of the flanges 25 and 28 of the two shells I4 and l2 cooperating to define the opening i5 through which access may be had to the interior of the inner shell [2 and therefore, of the cabinet.

In refrigerator cabinets constructed in accordance with the present invention, it is normally desirable to dispose insulating material, such as, for example, rock-wool, or the like, between the corresponding walls of the inner and outer shell, the space between the inner and outer shells normally being filled with such insulating material. In practice, the insulating material may be in the form of relatively large masses or mats of fibrous material, or in the form of relatively finely divided material which is preferably blown into the space between the inner and outer shells. Therefore, it will be seen that it is desirable that the opening in the front of the cabinet H) between the flange and the flange 28 be suitably closed so that not only will a pleasing appearance be afforded at the front of the cabinet l0 but, also, the insulating material will be efficiently retained in the space between the inner shell [2 and the outer shell M. For this purpose, I have afforded a novel and improved trim member or breaker strip which presents not only a desirable ornamental appearance but, also, may be quickly and easily installed on, and removed from, the inner and outer shells l2 and I4, and, when disposed in operative position on the inner and outer shells l2 and I4, affords an efficient closure between the flanges 28 and 25 which is effective to efficiently retain either fibrous or finely divided insulating material in position between the inner and outer shells.

The trim members or breaker strips 35 comprise elongated strips which may be made of extruded plastic or the like, and each comprises an elongated bi-lateral central portion or body portion 31 having two bifurcated, outwardly opening, longitudinally extending lateral edges and 4|, Figs. 1 and 4-6, the body portion 31 being angularly formed to dispose the lateral edge portions 40 and M substantially perpendicularly to each other.

The bifurcated edge portions 40 and 4! of the breaker strips 35, Fig. 4, each comprises two tongues 40a and 40b and 41a and 4 lb, respectively, the tongues 40a and Ma preferably comprising substantially straight-line prolongations of the body portion 3'? and the tongues 4% and Mb being disposed laterally inwardly of the tongues 40a and 4m, respectively, relative to the angle between the edges 40 and 4|.

The tongue 4!!) is connected at its inner edge portion to the tongue 4 la in inwardly spaced relation to the free end portion of the tongue Ma, and projects outwardly adjacent to, but in spaced relation to, the tongue Ma and terminates short of the free edge portion of the tongue M0, in a free edge portion 44, which projects or flares away from the tongue Ma at an acute angle. Thus, it will be seen that as shown in Fig. 4, the tongues Ma and M17 define a substantially Y-shaped bifurcated edge 4| on the breaker strip 35.

The tongue 4% is substantially L-shaped in cross-section having one leg 46 projecting substantially perpendicularly inwardly from the tongue 40a in spaced relation to the free end portion 47 of the tongue 40a and having the other leg 48 thereof projecting forwardly along the tongue 40a in spaced relation thereto andterminating in a free end portion 49. The tongues 40a and 402) are preferably substantially of the same length and, as best shown in Fig. 4, the free end portions 41 and 49 project inwardly substantially directly toward each other. Also, as is best seen in Fig. 4, it will be seen that the tongue 49b is not truly L-shaped, the leg 48 preferably being disposed at an acute angle to the leg after, the bifurcated edge 40 of the breaker strip 35 is, in the construction of the cabinet [0, disposed on the front wall portion 23 of the casing M in engagement with the flange 25 with the free edge 49 on the tongue 4% disposed behind, and in abutting relation with the free edge 25a of the reverse bend of the flange 25 to thereby firmly but releasably latch the bifurcated edge 40 of the trim strip 35 in operative position on the peripheral edge portion of the outer casing M. For this purpose, the tongues 40a and 402) are preferably so constructed that the free edge portions 41 and 49 are normally slightly spaced from each other, before the breaker strip 35 is mounted on the flange 25 so that insertion of the flange 25 may be readily accomplished by pressing the bifurcated edge 4|] against the rounded edge of the flange 25. However, the space between the free edge portions 41 and 49 of the tongues 40a and 40b is only sufficient to assist in guiding the flange 25 therebetween, and the free edge portions 41 and 49 are disposed sufficiently close to each other that to insert the flange 25 therebetween the tongues 40a and 40b must be sprung outwardly from each other and when the free edge portion 49 of the tongue 40b moves inwardly of, or behind the free edge 25a of the flange 25, the tongue 40b springs inwardly toward the tongue 40a to thereby dispose the free edge 49 in latching engagement with the free edge 25a, and yieldingly clamp the flange 25 between the free edge 41 of the tongue 40a and the inner face of the leg 48 of the tongue 4%.

In the construction of a refrigerator such as the refrigerator iii, the inner shell i2 is first mounted in the outer shell l4 and secured thereto by suitable means such as the hangers 30, and, thereafter, the trim strips 35 may be mounted on the corresponding perpendicularly disposed peripheral edges of the inner shell l2 and the outer shell H. To accomplish this, individual breaker strips 35 are mounted on the top, bottom; and two sides of the opening IS in the cabinet l i), with each breaker strip being first mounted on the respective flange and then moved'into operative engagement with the corresponding flange 23. Thus, it will be seen that in mounting any one of the breaker strips 35 in position on the cabinet is, the bifurcated end ie is first pressed onto the flange 25 on the outer shell M into the position shown in Fig. 4, wherein the free edge portion 49 of the tongue iib is disposed inwardly of the free edge 25a of the reverse bend of the flange 25 in abutting relation thereto, and the free edge portion 47 of the tongue iter and the inner face of the leg 48 of the tongue Mil) are disposed in clamping engagement with the flange 25. With the breaker strip 35 disposed in this position, it will be seen that the free edge 44 of the tongue Mb is disposed in abutting relation with the inner face of the corresponding off-set flange 28 so that the bifurcated edge iii is sprung outwardly somewhat from the normal position assumed when the breaker strip 35 is not disposed on a cabinet. To accommodate supporting members such as the hangers 30, suitable notches or recesses ile may be cut or otherwise formed in the tongue Mb of the bifurcated edge ii of the breaker strip 35 in position to receive the bracket member 33 of the hanger so therein, as shown in Fig. 3. The other bracket member 32 of the hanger 30 is spaced from reversely bent flanges 25 to thereby afford clearance between the bracket member 32 and the bifurcated edge 4c of the breaker strip 35.

After the entire length of the edge til of the strip 35 has been mounted on the flange 25 in the position shown in Fig. 4, the other edge portion 4! may be moved into the position shown in Fig. 5 wherein the free edge of the flange 28 rests on the free edge 44 of the bifurcated edge 41 of the breaker strip 35. This latter movement of the free edge 4| may be readily effected in my novel breaker strip by pressing or pulling the free edge ii in a direction substantially toward the junction of the tongues 49a and 43b to thereby pivot the bifurcated edge 4!] on the flange 25 from the position shown in Fig. 4 to that shown in Fig. 5, and spring the edge 4| inwardly around the line of flexure comprising the apex of the angle between the edges and ll. It will be seen that the tapered channel-shape of the bifurcated edge 49 is especially well suited for the pivotal movement of the strip 35 on the flange 25, the clearance afforded between the inner end portion of the leg 48 and the flan e 25 enabling such movement to be relatively easily effected, and the latching engagement of the free edge portion &9 of the tongue 402) with the flange 25 insuring that the edge 4!] will be retained in operative position on the flange 25.

Following the engagement of the free edge 44 of the bifurcated edge 4| with the free edge of the flange 28 in the position shown in Fig. 5, the breaker strip 35 may be quickly and easily disposed in normal operable position on the flanges 25 and 28 by merely pressing inwardly thereon, the pressure preferably being applied substantially on the apex of the angle between the edges do and 4! along a path substantially bisecting that angle. When the breaker strip 35 is disposed in normal operable position on the flanges 25 and 28, it is disposed in the position shown in Figs. 2 and 6, wherein the bifurcated edge 4! is sprung somewhat inwardly toward the edge 40 from the normal position assumed thereby when 6. the strip 35 is not mounted on the flanges 25 and 28, and wherein the flange 25 is clampingly engaged between the tongues 46a and 401}, with the free edge 49 of the tongue 40b disposed in latching engagement with the free edge 25a of the reverse bend of the flange 25, and the tongue Mb is yieldingly, but firmly pressing against the outer face of the flange 28 to thereby effect an efficient seal between the flange 28 and the edge 4|, and yieldingly hold the free edge 48 of the tongue 40?) in sealing engagement with the free edge 25a of the reverse bend of the flange 25. Hence, it will be seen that the breaker strip 35 may be readily installed in operative position on the flanges 25 and 28, and, when so installed affords a pleasing appearing trim strip which is effective to efficiently close the opening between the flanges 25 and 28 and to prevent the esca e of insulation material therethrough.

Removal of the trim strip 35 from the flanges 2'5 and 28 may be readily effected by pulling the edge ll out of engagement with the flange 28 and then pulling the edge 40 out of engagement with the flange 25.

The breaker strips 35 at the top, bottom, and sides, respectively, of the opening i5 in the cabinet H! are individual strips and terminate adjacent to the breaker strips 35 disposed adjacent to both ends thereof. The corners, between the adjacent breaker strips 35 are filled with preformed sections 52 which are secured in position relative to the strips by suitable means such as screws 53, and give the molding a pleasing appearance.

It will be apparent from the foregoing that I have afforded; a novel cabinet construction embodying parts constituted and arranged in a novel and expeditious manner to afford a pleasing appearance; a construction which may be quickly and easily assembled and disassembled; and a construction which, when assembled, is operable in a practical and efficient manner to retain insulation material therein.

Thus, while I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that these are capable of variation and modification.

I claim:

In a double walled cabinet including spaced inner and outer shells, said shells having corresponding peripheral edge portions disposed in spaced relation to each other and in planes substantially at right angles thereto, said peripheral edge portion on one of said shells being inwardly reversely bent to afford a laterally projecting closely spaced flange parallel with the inner surface of said portion with the free edge thereof in spaced relation to the shell, a strip of flexible material having surfaces extending in planes substantially at right angles to each other from a line of flexure toward respective ones of said peripheral edges, the opposite edges of elongated sides of strip being bifurcated and having two laterally displaced tongues extending in substantially the same direction engaging opposite sides of said respective ones of said peripheral edges and holding said strip in bridging relation between said peripheral edges, the inner tongue of the bifurcated edge which engages the reversely bent edge having a lip projecting toward the other tongue thereof and engaging the free edge of said flange therewith in latching engagement, and the other of said bifurcated edges having the inner tongue projecting outwardly away from the other tongue thereof for guidingly engaging the 7 other of said respective peripheral edges to thereby guide said other peripheral edge to said other bifurcated edge after said bifurcated edge is disposed on said first mentioned respective peripheral edge in said latching engagement with said flange.

CARL E. H. FRYKDAHL.

References Cited in the file of this patent Number 8 Name Date Forsthoefel June 25, 1940 Quimper Sept. 2, 1941 Goulooze Sept. 21, 1943 Goulooze May 9, 1944 Howard Nov. 28, 1944 Armstrong Oct. 2, 1945 Iwashita Mar. 6, 1951 

